VIP Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Guided Tour
Recommended by 92% of travellers
Rome, Italy
- 1 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Most tours of Ancient Roman ruins offer one sightseeing option or, at most, two. This tour option offers different packages to explore the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Choose the package that best suits your travel plans, whether it's the small-group option, access to the arena floor or underground dungeons, or an express-length exterior stroll around the Colosseum to capture photos.
- Learn far more than you would on your own by visiting with a guide
- Upgrade to Arena Floor access that is usually restricted
- Check off plenty in a matter of hours—without committing to a full-day of sightseeing
- Choose from different tour options and lengths to suit your schedule
Why Travellers Choose This Tour
A selection of upgrade options makes this far more flexible than standard Colosseum tours.
What's Included
- Admission to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum (if option selected)
- Admission to the Colosseum Arena Floor (if option selected)
- Colosseum entry ticket and reservation fee included (€18–€24 value)
- Expert storytelling from a licensed historian guide with headphones provided
- Personalised, group experience offering top-rated value and comfort
- Access to the arena floor (unless selected, available for an additional fee)
- Food and Beverages
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Arch of ConstantineP.za del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Please meet your guide in front of the Arch of Constantine. They will be holding a yellow Carpe Diem Tours flag or sign. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour start time. Late arrivals unfortunately cannot be refunded.
End point
- Roman Forum00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
The tour will either finish in the Roman Forum or the Colosseum, depending on which monument we start with, where you will be left to either leave or spend more time exploring the area.
Itinerary
1
Colosseum
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Palatine Hill
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Roman Forum
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travellers can participate
- Please provide the full names of all travellers when booking. Tickets must match these names; failure to present a voucher with all travellers’ full names at the ticket office may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Each traveller must present a valid passport or ID matching the name provided at booking for entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Tour order may vary: we will start with either the Colosseum or the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill depending on ticket times.
- Colosseum admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Tours are discounted on these days.
- Want an upgrade? Check out these other options: VIP Colosseum Tour (12pax), Colosseum Express Arena Tour (24pax)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travellers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveller Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 1,709 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Kathryn_M, Aug 2026
We were not able to use this particular experience. The Colosseum closed at that time. We were booked with a group called Carpe Diem with a small group. Our tour guide (Sushi) was AMAZING. She was informative and charming and we felt like we got all the best information. We were able to avoid lines and large crowds and we enjoyed every minute.
Luca_R, July 2026
Ursus is an excellent guide! Extremely knowledgeable and he really did his research. He shared stories beyond the standard reading off of facts and made Rome come to life. Excellent work!
Nagina_B, July 2026
The tour started on time. Our guide Mariana made the tour interesting and interactive. She covered all 3 places in an efficient way, especially since it was a really hot day and we needed multiple water breaks. Enjoyed the tour.
Elise_M, July 2026
Very knowledgeable tour guide with interesting and funny information. We did a lot in the three hours and it was a great pace.
BONNIE_T, July 2026
The tour was very informative and our guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable.
If it hadn’t been so hot, I could’ve listened for hours more.
Elizabeth_K, July 2026
The guide Paulina was very good and knowledgeable. She was also attentive to the group’s needs in the heat.
Gustavo_L, July 2026
A very passionate guide had a great walking flow to make this tour very complete. We got to know everything. And of course, the Colosseum by itself is worth it.
Mavis_P, July 2026
Horrible the person doing the tour was rude and unhelpful. For 300 for that ridiculous. Will be disputing with bank I can’t stand that I paid 300 for something I never even received.
victor_o, July 2026
Expect lots of stairs and queing standing for a long period of time, bring water not good if you have mobility problem.
Lea_M, July 2026
I highly recommend this tour! My family of 5 (with 3 kids ages 23, 16 and 15) really enjoyed every minute. Francesco was amazing - very informative, personable, and friendly. He shared so much information in a fun way, like a storyteller. Amazing experience!
Rob_N, July 2026
We booked an VIP tour to see the Colosseum. We arrived 15m ahead of time at the exact location using the Google link they provided. However they were not in that location. I message them and never heard from them until well after the tour. On the positive side they then did email us access tickets to enter the colosseum (but without the VIP tour).
Angie_G, July 2026
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and was excellent. Highly recommend this tour. Great way to see the coloseum
Hunter_W, July 2026
Excellent tour! The perfect length of time and Amy, our guide was incredible at explaining in a way that was insightful and educational. We would hihgly recommend this to others
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Hunter! We're delighted you enjoyed the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour with Amy. We're glad her insightful and educational approach made the tour so enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Dayna_N, July 2026
The tour is about 2.5 hours long packed with plenty of information and great insight about the structure and history. Please be aware that depending on the time of year you visit, we went in July, it is very hot with limited shade. We are use to the heat so it didn't bother us as much but if you are not use to heat bring an umbrella, water and a mini fan. We jumped passed the long lines right into the Colleseum which was great. Plenty of walking with beautiful sights throughout the tour, wear comfortable shoes. The tour guide was so informative and had us engaged with all the details she provided about the landmarks. She was fantastic! Definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Dayna! We're delighted you enjoyed the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour. We're glad your guide's knowledge and engaging storytelling made the experience so enjoyable. We also appreciate your helpful tips for future guests and truly value your recommendation!
laura_r, July 2026
Fine handing of the right amount of details given during the tour. 100's .of facts given and shown. Really enjoyed the whole tour.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Laura! We're delighted you enjoyed the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour. We're glad the balance of details and fascinating facts made the experience so enjoyable. We hope to welcome you back to Rome soon!
Kam_B, July 2026
We had no idea how much we didnt know about the Coliseum and Palatine Hill. Francesca was very passionate.
We would have given 5 stars but the tour was changed and didnt allow Coliseum floor access which is why we booked it
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Kam, for sharing your feedback. We're glad to hear you enjoyed learning from Francesca and appreciated her passion and knowledge. We’re sorry that the change to your tour meant you were unable to access the Colosseum floor as expected, and we understand your disappointment. We appreciate your comments and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even better experience in the future.
Laurie_K, July 2026
We had an awesome tour this morning with Kopal. She did a great job and was so knowledgeable! We definitely enjoyed the guided tour. Will recommend to friends
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Laurie! We're glad you enjoyed the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill tour with Kopal. It's wonderful to hear that her knowledge made the experience memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon!
Jordan_E, July 2026
Our day at the Colessum with Carpe Diem Tours was great. Our guide Linnea was excellent! She made the 3+ hour tour in the very hot sun fun and exciting. She know so much information about Ancient Roman history. We walked through the Colessum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum while Linnea told stories to captivate the group and keep us interested and entertained. She’s a great storyteller and it was pleasure to have her as our guide. We would highly recommend this tour and to request Linnea if possible.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Jordan! We're thrilled you enjoyed your Colosseum tour with Linnea. We're glad her storytelling and knowledge made the experience memorable, even in the heat. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. We appreciate your recommendation!
Jason_S, July 2026
Our tour took place during the extreme heat wave in June so it was impossible to avoid the heat. There is a lot of history and stories to hear. Our teenagers were done after the first hour or so. Bring extra water.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you, Jason, for sharing your feedback. We understand that the extreme heat made the experience more challenging, especially for younger guests. We appreciate your helpful tips and hope to welcome you back to explore more of Rome in better conditions.
Chris_G, July 2026
Our tour company, Carpe Diem Tours, and tour guide Francesca were exceptional! From the time we walked up to the meeting spot until the time the tour was finished in the Roman Colosseum it was awesome.
Francesca was an archaeologist and a Rome native. She’s actually working on site restoring artifacts.
Can’t miss proposition, Carpe, Diem Tours, and Francesca!
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your exceptional review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience with Francesca and our team. Her expertise as an archaeologist and passion for Rome truly make the history come alive. We greatly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another incredible experience in Rome soon!
Luanne_R, July 2026
We had an excellent experience. Our tour guide, Linea, was great and the company communications was timely and smooth.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had an excellent experience with Linea and appreciated the smooth communication. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable tour in Rome soon!
Kevin_R, July 2026
Tour was not well executed. They forgot to get head sets when we were supposed to start the tour. They had to send someone back for it wasting 30 minutes. This left us barely any time for palatine hill and the Roman forum. The guide didn’t apologize or offer some way to make it up, just kept on blaming other people in the organization and saying it wasn’t his fault. He is also spoke very poor English. He could deliver most of his talking points, but could not answer questions because of the language barrier. It was great seeing these sites, but I would never use the company again. Worst tour company I have ever used.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. We understand how frustrating the delays and communication issues were, and we apologize for the impact they had on your tour time. We appreciate your comments regarding the guide and organization, and we will use this feedback to improve our service and guest experience. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
Corbett_V, July 2026
This is a must tour if you are interested in history. Our tour guide, Francesca, was born and raised in Rome and was an archaeologist. She had so much passion and love for her job and her descriptions made the visuals come to life. It is a long tour but very much worth it.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring Rome’s ancient history with Francesca. Her passion and expertise truly make the experience special, and we're glad her storytelling brought the sites to life. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable tour!
Sylvia_G, June 2026
Had a great time. Our tour guide was very warm, friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the history of the colosseum and the Roman forum. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience
Response from Host, July 2026
Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you had such an incredible and memorable experience exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum 👍
Gayle_S, June 2026
Linnea was a fabulous guide. We learned lots about the construction of the amphitheater and the different shows performed each year. On a very hot day, she made sure to find as many shady spots for us to hear about the details and hear some funny jokes. We enjoyed following the lemon!
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Linnea and appreciated her knowledge, humor, and thoughtful care on such a hot day. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words, and we're happy the lemon led you to a memorable experience!
Perry_M, June 2026
The trip was for a vacation
To Rome
I had an awesome time the tour guide was very knowledgeable
And gave great information
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you had a great time and enjoyed exploring the city with our guide. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again soon.
Kari_O, June 2026
Unfortunately, our initial excursion was cancelled from 9:30am and rescheduled to 3pm. The day of our tour the weather was very hot and it negatively impacted our experience. Our guide was a kind man, but we would have appreciated someone with more knowledge about the history of the coliseum and the Roman connection with Troy. We were unable to to take our time though the displays in Troy, so having some information would have been nice. The ancient city part of the tour was ok. Again, if there was more dynamic information, it would have been better.
Response from Host, June 2026
Hi Kari,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the rescheduling and the hot weather on the day negatively affected your overall experience.
We understand how disappointing it can be when a time change impacts your plans, especially when visiting major sites like the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We also regret that the pacing and level of historical detail did not fully meet your expectations. While our guides aim to share engaging and accurate context throughout the tour, we’re sorry that in your case it felt less dynamic than you had hoped, particularly regarding the deeper historical connections you were interested in.
We appreciate your comments about both content depth and time management within the sites, and we will share your feedback with our operations team for review and improvement.
Thank you again for your honest review, and we’re sorry the experience felt underwhelming for you overall.
Diane_L, June 2026
Fantastic tour! Our guide Andrea was delightful, well-informed, and able to answer all our random questions. So interesting to see the history and learn more about early Roman culture. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the history of ancient Rome with Andrea. It's wonderful that she was able to answer all your questions and make the experience so engaging. Thank you for the recommendation! 🏛️🌟
Diana_M, June 2026
Tiana was very knowledgeable and so much fun. She didn’t rush us and we enjoyed the tour! I would highly recommend her!
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Tiana. Her knowledge and enthusiasm truly make for a great experience. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon! ⭐😊
sarah_b, June 2026
Sabrina was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, accommodating in the heat by stopping in the shade. She was kind and passionate about the history.
Response from Host, June 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review, Sarah! We’re so happy you enjoyed the tour with Sabrina and appreciated her knowledge, kindness, and thoughtful care throughout the experience. We truly appreciate your kind words!
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